'Stute's budget is not good reading

The Waterside men, who were relegated last month, are now preparing for life in Ladbrokes Championship One and Hewitt knows that life is going to be just as tough this season.

"Next year the club will have to cut their cloth to suit, but that doesn't say that we don't want to win every game we compete in; the league is our main priority, but the supporters and fellow board members will have to be patient this season," admitted the chairman.

"We are hoping to get a few experienced players into our squad and then bring through our young players; to me personally if they are 18 or 19 years old and are playing reserve football then no disrespect to First Division football, they should be good enough for our first team.

"It's then up to our management staff to bring those young players on and it's up to our youth coaches as well to bring these players through. There is definitely the talent there and with us not having a Reserve team this season, our Under 18 side will effectively become our reserve team, although that will be a jump up for a lot of them, but if they don't have the ambitions or ability at 18 or 19 then in my opinion they shouldn't be playing in our reserve team."

The chairman also confirmed that the manager's budget has been reduced again from what it was at the end of last season.

"The budget is going to be very, very tight. John has his figures and it's not good reading at all, but we are hoping the supporters and sponsors will get behind the club, like they did last season and to be fair like they have always done.

"We are going to have an inexperienced team next year and I would ask supporters and most of the committee to realise and understand that we have a young squad and get behind them and encourage them rather than criticise them, and hopefully we'll get our rewards at the end of the season.

"John wants to win the league, but he knows that's going to be tight because of his budget. He's currently finding it hard talking to existing players because of the budget but we knew that was going to happen, however I feel this could improve John as a manager as well.

"Although he's currently doing his Pro Licence it's sometimes harder working with experienced players, but this time he'll be able to put his stamp down. I truly believe that it will be good for the club long term, because you'll be bringing players into the first team squad, who have been at the club for the last few years and they'll know what the club's about."

Speculation is also rife that the club wouldn't be too bothered if they failed in their attempt to go straight back up to the Premiership, but Hewitt was quick to quash those rumours.

"We want to go out and try every game, but we also want to consolidate things this season. The league is obviously our main objective and the club has ambition, we are starting a new project at the end of July but as I have said we have to cut our cloth accordingly this season, so that we can challenge again down the line," he added.

"At the end of the day we as a club want to go back into the Premiership the right way. Because if we don't get promotion this season then we'll get ourselves levelled out, but our aim has to be getting back in with the big boys, but on a better foundation. This could be the year to start our foundation and then start building on that.

"If it takes us one year or two years then that is the way it has to be."

Over the years the likes of Ards, Larne and Carrick Rangers, clubs who in years gone by were mixing on a regular basis with the likes of Linfield, Glentoran and Crusaders struggled and Hewitt concedes that he doesn't want 'Stute to end up like those clubs languishing in the Championship.

"The Championship is going to be a very tough league, from Dergview who got promoted, right to the likes of Limavady, Loughgall, Ards, Glebe Rangers and Ballymoney United, are all going to be tight matches, but we just don't want to get into a situation where you are happy to just play here.

"Nevertheless it's all about finance, every club is finding it tight as far up as Glentoran and Linfield, as their senior players have taken a cut in wages to stay at the club, so that just shows how everyone is finding it tight.

"At the end of the day the most important thing is the football club has to survive, more than paying a person 200 or 100 a week."

Hewitt feels this season could also be a big year for the club's youth players and for junior players in and around the area, to get their chance of playing Irish League football.

"There are good players out there and to be honest I think over the last few years the club has been blinkered because they have been playing in the Premiership; we have always seemed to be going for Premiership type players from other clubs in around the same area, instead of breeding your own player.

"It's like if they don't play for Finn Harps, Coleraine or Limavady United then they're playing for 'Stute and that's vice-versa; Omagh Town were the same, but I think this year it could be a very good year for us branching out for local players who would have the ambition to play Irish League football.

"If they do then we'll be doing things right with the local clubs in the area maybe not financially but we'll be able to sort something out down the line," concluded the chairman.